Packing case for fragile articles



April 25, 1933. J HENDRY 1,905,708

Inverwtor: Johnson E Hendry.

IQHWM His Attorneg.

Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT ELECTRIC PACKING CASE FOR FRAGILE N ws i Application filed September 13, 1928. Serial No. 392,446.

The present invention comprises a new and improved'packing case for fragile articles and the like, such, for example, as vacuum tubes, lamps, et cetera. j

One objectof my invention is to provide a packing case or carton which will be compact and light in weight and, at the same time protect the tube therein from damage or breakage.

Another object of my invention is to provide a packing case which will absorb sudden shocks transmitted thereto or received in shipment, so that the tube therein-will not be subjected to such shocks.

A further object of myinvention is to provide a structure whereby a resilient andyieldglng mounting is provided for the tube while the latter is at the sa-me'time held substantially rigid in place.

It is well known that glass tubes such as vacuum tubes'of various designs are very fragile and expensive. It has hence been necessary to exercise great care not only in manufacture but also in transportation of such devices. At'the present time special packing" cases often must be built especially for the larger tubes of this class for shipping purposes in order to insureagainst breakage in transportation. Thisrequires time and labor and is expensive. Since also thespacing between electrodes is very critical in certain types of tubes, care must be taken when packingsuch tubes for shipment so that displacement of the electrodes in transit will be avoided. Y V

In accordance with my invention I have constructed a. packing case'which will effectively protect the tube therein against breakage and shock during shipment. -The packing case of my invention is easyto handle and ship andis constructed so that it can be shippedin-knocked down form to the place where it is to be used in packing tubes. 7 Referring to the drawing forming part of bodiment of my trate the various 1 OFFICE JOHNSON F. HEN'DIRY,OI SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK this application, there is illustrated an eminvention.v v

In the said drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken awayso as to more. clearly illustrate'the invention, of a preferred form ofpacking case embodying the features of showing a transmitting my invention and tube in place.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of my inventionso as to clearly illusparts which makeup the packing case. 7

Fig. 3 is a developedplan view of the retaining member of my invention. a Fig. 4 is a partially developed perspective View of the same retaining member.

The packing case consists in general of an outer enclosing casing 1, formed of any suitable material such for example as corrugated or multi-cellular cardboard and an inner containing member 2 fitting within the outer casing. The inner containing member2is open at both ends,

each end being provided with fiangesor fiaps 3 which extend outwardly from said member. Within and slidingly engaging the inner surface of the containing member 2 are retaining members 4 one at each end of the member 2 sojas to constitute endclosures' therefor. Each retaining member 4 is composed ofan integral piece of suitable material, such as cardboard, fland is constituted of a base member 5 provided with an opening 6 therein, and side walls 7 formed so as to present yielding contacting surfaces with the inner surface of. the member 2 against which they snugly fit when in p0si- .tion.

The retaining members4 are inserted from tions 5 in juxtaposition and facing each other, and are of such length as. is necessary depending on the size .of the tube packed.

strips of a flexible material 8, such as can.

each end of the member 2 with the base porstrips 8, produces a cushioningeffect and vas, which cross at about right angles to each other at the center of the opening and are suitably fixed at their edges to the base portion 5. In the drawing two such strips are shown, but obviously, any desired number may be used. 7

Each of the strips 8 is slit along a portion of its length so that where they cross an opening 9 is presented to receive a portion of the tube packed in the casing. Instead of using a plurality of strips as shown the opening 6 may be entirely covered by a section of flexible material which has anopening therein toreceive a portion of the tube in contact therewith. V

In order to pack a tube such as tube 10 shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the containing member 2 is first placed within the outer casing 1, the'fiange portions-'3 of the'adja cent'end resting on. the bottom thereof. A retaining member lis then placed within the containing member 2 so that its base portion is uppermost and so that it rests on the bottom of the casing lwhile it is yieldingly held in contact with theinner wallsof the container 2 by the side walls 7 The tube 10 is then inserted so that one end thereof passes through the opening 9 sothat a portion thereof rests against the yieldable strips 8. An-

other retaining member leis nowinserted with its base portion facing downwardly, that is, facing the base portion of the first retaining member inserted. This last retaining member is inserted so that the other end of the tube is received within the'opening 9 presented by the flexible strips 8 which are caused to abut the body portion adjacent to this end of the tube. The flaps 11 of the outer casing 1 may then be closed and sealed and the packing case is readyfor shipment.

'A packing case made in accordance with my invention is highly desirable because of the presence therein of the specially constructed retaining member 4. The construction of this member and its co-operation with the member 2and the tube packed therein is such that greater resiliency of support and increased cushioning is obtained. As will be evident from an inspection of the construction, the retaining member 4 while being "snugly held within the container 2 is never- .theless free to move with respect thereto in a piston-like fashion. This feature, in cases where the packing case is subjected to any shock which would disturb the contents thereof, together with the combined action ofthe thus prevents damage or breakage in transit of the tube.

It will'also be seen that this construction is very simple in its nature,

' easy to manufacture an djeasy to handle, and

"can be produced at acomparatively low cost. 7 What I "claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

T 1. *A packing case for fragile articles'comprising an outer casing, a unitary inner containing member, and retaining members within said inner containing member, said retaining members being snugly and yieldingly held within said containing member when in position, each of said retaining memreceiving a portion of said tube.

3. A packing case for fragile articles comprising an outer casing and an inner containing member, said inner containing member having therewithin a plurality of juxtaposed retaining .members,. each retaining member being provided with sidewall cushioning means whereby it.is snugly and yieldingly held against the inner surfaceof the con taining member, each of said. retaining members being also provided .witha base portion having an opening therein and provided with yieldable strips across said opening, said retaining members being adapted to receive therebetween a fragilearticle and to hold the'same between and in contact with said yieldable strips.

' 4;. A packing case forglass tubesandthe like, comprising an outer casing and an inner 'member having'therewithin a plurality of juxtaposed retaining members, each retaining member being provided with side wall cushioning means whereby it is snugly and yieldingly held against the inner surface of the containing member, each of said retaining members being also provided with a base portion having an opening therein and provided with' yieldable strips across said opening, said tube being received and held between the pair of' retaining members'and in contact with" said yieldable strips.

5. In a packing case forglass tubes and the like, an outer casing a unitary inner containing-member, and retaining members snugly a'nd yieldingly held within said inner containing member when in position, a tube within said inner containing member, and means for cushioningsaid tube within said inner containing member, said cushioning 1roneans formingpart of said retaining memers.

6. A packing case for tubes and the like including an outer casing and a unitary inner containing member, a plurality of means within said inner containing member for receiving and holding a tube therebetween, each of said means being snugly and yieldingly held within said inner containing memher when in position and being provided with cushioning means forming an integral part thereof and adapted to cushion said tube against shocks transmitted thereto.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of September 1929.

JOHNSON F. HENDRY. 

